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Age no barrier in surfbreaker

8:00 AM Tuesday Dec 26, 2006

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Justto show the universal appeal of the longest running triathlon in Tauranga, there will be a 67-year difference between the oldest and youngest competitors in tomorrow's Surfbreaker.Tauranga's Kirsty Burrows, aged only 9, will line up in a team for the Eves Realty-sponsored event at Mount Maunganui's Main Beach with siblings Megan, 11, and Patrick, 13.At the other end of the spectrum, evergreen swimmer Sid Salek will team up with his comparatively junior coach Rob de Villiers and another from the aged brigade, runner Hector Mein.The 76-year-old Salek is warming up for another crack with his team of ``Old Farts'' in next week's Port of Tauranga Half Ironman, while Hamilton 75-year-old Helen Lewis will also take part tomorrow.Youth has featured in recent years of the Surfbreaker, which includes the unique 750m M-shape surf swim, with swimmers twice entering and exiting the water.Last year's male winner, Kieran Doe, won't be racing after a horrific crash in the Tinman event at the Mount earlier this month, but Tinman victor Duncan Milne (Taupo) is expected to front.Former winner Caleb Hill is also expected to race.The Surfbreaker is also the last remaining triathlon in the former Rheineck Surfbreaker series, which were popular in the 90s and staged at a number of surf beaches.The 16km cycle is fast and flat, and the final 400m of the run leg are across the soft sand of the Main Beach. Also included in the lineup is a UCAN2 distance of 375m swim/8km cycle/2.5km run while there are duathlon options for both events. The triathlon starts at 8am tomorrow.